Sailing Trobriands To Lae via Tufi and Kokoda

After visiting the Trobriand Islands we sail back to the mainland of Papua New Guinea then on to Lae, another capital city of PNG. Our first main stop is at Tufi where an elaborate welcome ceremony happened for the visit of the Governor General of PNG, Sir John Guise. People had voyaged in from surrounding areas, a lot by canoe, and some very elaborate dance costumes were on display. A great spectacle and Sir John was accompanied by the High Commissioners for Australia and New Zealand, Tom Critchley and Michael Mansfield. From Oro Bay we did a land trip up to Kokoda, an important part of Australia's war history. There we meet a Danish rubber tree plantation owner who had just completed building a 54 foot cruising yacht. We passed through Popondetta on the way to and from Kokoda. This was another victory place for the Australians against the Japanese after winning at Kokoda, then after at Popondetta. It enabled America to establish a major forward airfield base at Dobodura near Popondetta, one of the busiest in the conflict with 15 established airstrips in the complex. Finally on to Lae, the second largest city of Papua New Guinea where we anchored at the Lae Yacht Club, exploring both Lae and and interesting land trip up to the Highlands area of PNG. Remember that any video sections are digitised from 50 year old super 8 film. Photos are digitised from 50 year old 35mm slide film.

#Sailing from the Trobriands To Lae Via Tufi and Kokoda#Sir John Guise visits Tufi and watches the Traditional Dancing#Australians defeat the Japanese at Kokoda#Wartime Museum in 1976 at Kokoda#American Wartime Airfield Complex at Dobodura near Popondetta#US Pacific War#Dreamtime In Melanesia#PNG Cruising Guide#Sailing#Douglas Jones#Lae Yacht Club